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Konerko, Beckham both 3 for 3 in tie with Team USA

By DAVE SKRETTA The Associated Press

March 5, 2013

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The U.S. team played the White Sox to a draw Tuesday.

The afternoon probably felt like a loss.

In its first of two exhibition games before the World Baseball Classic, manager Joe Torre’s team fell into a four-run hole through five innings, and needed three RBIs by Giancarlo Stanton and a run-scoring triple by David Wright to forge a 4-4 tie in a game called after nine innings.

But the game itself proved to be almost secondary to what happened before it, when Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira strained his right forearm and had to pull out of the tournament.

“He had gone into the cage to hit off the tee. I think he took about three or four, just light swings as he was starting to get loose,” Torre said afterward. “It was just a freak thing.”

X-rays were negative, and Teixeira was headed back to New York City, where the Yankees said he will be evaluated today by team Dr. Christopher Ahmad and Dr. Melvin Rosenwasser.

The U.S. opens the Pool D play Friday against Mexico.

Paul Konerko might have made a strong case for consideration, going 3 for 3 and driving in a run for the Sox. Gordon Beckham also went 3 for 3 with an RBI.

Connor Gillaspie hit a long fly ball that left fielder that Shane Victorino couldn’t catch over his shoulder at the warning track, and it bounced over the wall for a run-scoring ground-rule double. Konerko followed with a base hit that gave the Sox a 4-0 lead.

Right-hander Gavin Floyd got the start for the Sox and allowed two hits and a walk in 22⁄3 scoreless innings, and said it was an honor to face the American team.

“They have a great lineup. All these teams should have great lineups,” Floyd said. “Ultimately, you try not to think about that. To be thrown in the mix that early, I kind of liked that. I like the challenge. You just try to ignore it.”

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